Quick & Easy Caramel Cups

Happy belated Halloween!

Halloween can be a tricky time for people with food allergies or restrictions. This is especially true for me, since I am both gluten intolerant and vegan! There’s hidden gluten and dairy in so many Halloween treats. So, I sometimes feel a bit left out at this time of year.

This feeling is extended to the dreaded holiday parties at work. My coworkers are really great at accommodating me. They are so considerate and always want to make me feel included. But I do worry. Not everyone is as knowledgable about what foods are gluten free or vegan. This makes me pretty anxious, which doesn’t really make the event enjoyable. And I never get to have any of the desserts or treats!

I know, I know. This sounds really unappreciative. But it’s just how I feel at these times, and it’s hard to avoid. This year I decided to make a delicious vegan treat for everyone to enjoy. And it made me a little more comfortable knowing I could finally enjoy a vegan and gluten free dessert with my coworkers!

I decided to experiment and make caramel cups. Vegan caramel is tricky, but these caramel cups are delicious! The caramel is made from dates. This makes it sweet and creamy without overpowering the flavor of the chocolate. Speaking of chocolate, I use Equal Exchange chocolate chips. These are vegan, organic, and fair trade. They also have very minimal ingredients, so I feel much better about eating them!

This treat is super simple to make too! All you need are just a few ingredients: vegan chocolate chips, dates, vanilla, almond milk (or another plant-based milk), and sea salt. That’s it! I hope you give these Caramel Cups a try. Maybe you’ll even bring them to your next holiday party!